Malnutrition in India Is Widespread

Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when our body does not get enough nutrients. It is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking. According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is the biggest contributor to child mortality.

According to estimates made by the World Bank, India ranks second in the world of children suffering from malnutrition, after Bangladesh (in 1998), where 47 percent of India’s children below the age of three years are malnourished (underweight).

The UN estimates that 2.1 million Indian children die before reaching the age of 5 every year – four every minute – mostly from preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, malaria, measles and pneumonia. Every day, 1,000 Indian children die because of diarrhoea alone.

The 2011 Global Hunger Index (GHI) Report ranked India 15th, amongst leading countries with hunger situation.  At the same time more than 100 million people (11% of Indian population) in India are over-nourished.

Nearly 50% of females aged 15 – 19 face under-nutrition, 40% of women in rural areas and 36% of women in urban areas were found to have mild anaemia. 40% of women in rural areas, and 36% of women in urban areas were found to have mild anaemia.